## Chapter 94 – 10. The Very Image of a Rascal
10. The Very Image of a Rascal
Just how much does he like Go?
I was half-expecting it, but I never thought he’d actually try to debut… Isn’t the Chairman of the Koryeo Group getting a little too carried away?
“But Aunt, weren’t you busy with work?”
– I am. But how can I refuse when the old man calls?
“I suppose so…”
– Minji is on her way back from the sea too. What on earth is going on?
That psycho of a sister, who was excited about sailing the high seas on an aircraft carrier, is apparently coming to Pyongyang.
But can she make it on time? She must be quite far away.
“Alright. I’ll go to Pyongyang too.”
– Yes. You’re suffering because of your immature grandpa.
“What are you talking about? I’m happy about it.”
– Are you?
“I get to see Aunt.”
– ….
She was silent for a moment.
Did it work?
– You really… only say the most thoughtful things. Yes. I’m happy to hear that. That I get to see my nephew.
I couldn’t see it, but I got the feeling she was smiling faintly.
It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, but it seems to have worked well.
‘I need to make Aunt completely mine if I want to survive.’
“I’ll see you in Pyongyang, Aunt.”
– Yes. Come safely. I’ll see you then.
I ended the call.
“…Are you going to Pyongyang?”
“Yeah. Our grandpa is going to become a professional Go player.”
“Wow. That’s because of that Go board, right? The one with the ghost.”
“Yeah.”
The Go board where Instructor Han Guk-yeong resided.
He was definitely a ghost who was dying to play Go when he saw me.
It seems he’s stuck to Grandpa and is seducing him.
Grandpa also had a great interest in Go, so he accepted it as is.
‘I thought he’d just invite amateurs or pros for periodic matches, but a pro is really…’
Will it work?
I don’t even think about it.
There has been 50 years of Go development since Instructor Han Guk-yeong, but all of those records remain, and I think Instructor Han Guk-yeong’s talent is enough to recover.
‘Could it be that… Grandpa might win international competitions or something??’
The most comedic expectation is that our Ko Young-man will completely dedicate himself to being a professional Go player, give up his group duties, and hand over the group to one of the vice presidents.
‘Then it would really be a hit drama material with dopamine as its only selling point.’
A 막장 (makjang) morning drama would get slammed if it unfolded like that, but…
‘Reality is always more dramatic than drama.’
You really never know what will happen.
“The drug deal is at midnight today, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hold it for a bit.”
“Yes? Why? Prestige is doing it anyway.”
“It’s going to bother me. You shouldn’t let your guard down for even a moment when all the direct family members are gathered.”
The collateral relatives are just toys to play with,
but the direct line is on a different level.
The fact that I, who had nothing, beat Jeon Seong-hyeon to death, raped my collateral aunt Min-ji-a, and had the Incheon Chief Prosecutor kneel before me, all came from the ‘direct line’ bloodline.
But what about the direct line members other than me?
They have that tremendous bloodline advantage and +@, with their own personal wealth and power.
And Ko Young-man is there too, so what’s the point of even talking about it.
It’s a bad move to be distracted by other things when all of these people are gathered in one place.
“I won’t be taking reports tomorrow, so just proceed with what’s running as smoothly as possible and keep everything else on hold.”
“Understood. I’ll pass it on right away.”
Sua delivers my orders.
They might freak out and throw a fit. He insisted on setting the place and time of the deal himself, so it’s definitely possible.
It might get a little tiring.
‘I’m going to need people who can handle delegation soon.’
I need someone who can handle things on their own without my orders or approval.
Sua has officially become the director of Prestige, so I should take this opportunity to create a secretariat dedicated to me and have her manage it.
‘That’s what a director is supposed to do in the first place.’
When Han Gyeong-baek was Ko Mu-yeol’s closest aide, there was a secretariat dedicated to Ko Mu-yeol.
It was all disbanded when he was half-forced out.
It’s time to establish it again.
Centered around Im Sua.
‘I’ve seen the Military’s headquarters… Should I check out Prestige’s headquarters too? And see our heroine while I’m at it.’
It’s been about two months since she was sent for training, so she should be looking pretty good.
She should have shed the awful vintage look that was hiding her pretty face.
+++
“What?”
Jang Gyeong-su, who was preparing for the deal (raid), frowned at the sudden words.
He clenched his huge left fist, expressing his emotions.
“They called off the deal??”
“To be exact, they asked to postpone it. They said they have circumstances that prevent them from doing it today.”
“Have you ever seen such a lack of business ethics! How can they postpone a deal with only a few hours left??”
He had made thorough preparations for today’s deal.
He had called back the troops dispatched to each region, and he had drafted more than half of the people guarding the drug factories and other businesses.
This is all cost, and it’s for today’s deal, but they suddenly postpone the deal with same-day notice?
This is the worst kind of nuisance.
“…Could they have found out? Any signs of information leaking?”
“No signs have been detected yet.”
“Just because it hasn’t been detected doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
“Could it be… because of the Koryeo Group?”
“Koryeo Group?”
Why is that name coming up out of nowhere?
As Jang Gyeong-su frowned, his subordinate quickly continued.
“The deal is suspected to be with an organization in Shanghai, and the Koryeo Group’s pressure is beyond imagination these days. Rumor has it that a war could break out. If that happens,”
“The logistics coming from that side could be cut off.”
“There is information that an artificial island has already departed from Tianjin and is heading to Incheon. An island owned by Military.”
“…So, they’re being as careful as possible because of the Koryeo Group?”
“For now, that’s what it looks like. Ships carrying smuggled goods have been returning since a few days ago because of the artificial island, so maybe the actual goods were on one of those…”
“Tsk.”
Jang Gyeong-su repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist and slumped into his chair.
No matter how much he has 200,000 police officers and thousands of gang members, he can never touch the Koryeo Group.
The moment he touches them, all of his power will crumble.
“Are they really from Shanghai?”
“After tracking them as you said, boss, several traces are emerging. There are also conflicting pieces of information, but that’s how information usually is. The most likely is Shanghai.”
Jang Gyeong-su tapped the desk with his clenched fist.
“First, ask them. Tell them to give a reason. And if they don’t give a proper reason…”
“….”
He paused for a moment.
What’s the point of making demands when we’re going to rob them anyway?
‘There is a point.’
“Tell them to lower the price even more. That way, they won’t suspect anything.”
“Yes, boss.”
+++
“Discount my ass. The price is fixed, no matter what. Instead, tell them that they can set the date and location of the next deal. And don’t report about it anymore. Until you get on the plane to Incheon.”
“Yes, Master.”
Late in the evening, I arrived in Pyongyang.
This is my third visit, following the first possession and Chuseok.
The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun still stands majestically.
To the point where I feel overwhelmed by its energy.
“Welcome, young master.”
I was guided inside by the servants.
It was still as splendid as ever, but there were some changes.
“…Go stones?”
Some of the various works of art that had filled the interior of the Palace of the Sun had been changed.
And it wasn’t just a little, but a lot, to the point where it was noticeable at a glance.
And the things that had been changed were mostly filled with Go-related props.
No, should I call those works of art too?
But it just feels like they’re just putting up huge Go stones or Go boards.
“Goodness.”
It seems like the wind has really blown properly.
I greeted Grandpa.
He smiled very broadly and welcomed me, and hugged me with his rejuvenated body.
Hugging a man is really not my thing, but… he’s the grandpa who owns the Koryeo Group, so I can’t help it.
“Thanks to my grandson, I’ve been enjoying life so much these days!”
“Are you that happy, Grandpa?”
“Of course! I’m more than happy!”
Then give me 1 trillion won.
“Do you know what my original dream was?”
“Um… I don’t know, Grandpa.”
“To be a professional Go player.”
“….”
Not to that extent??
“This is my real dream. The goal of my life!”
“And it’s coming true tomorrow.”
Grandpa chuckled and stroked the Go board.
It’s the Go board of a master that still hasn’t had the bloodstains wiped off.
“Until now… I couldn’t do it. This Go thing, you see. It’s the fairest and most cruel game.”
He tapped his head with his index finger.
“If this head doesn’t follow, you can’t do it no matter how hard you try. The difference between a master and a novice is most clearly revealed in this game of Go. That’s why the winner is followed by immense honor.”
And Grandpa declared.
“Now I’m going to reach the pinnacle of it.”
“….”
“Kuhahahahaha!!!”
Grandpa….
You’re very hearty….
